Credit Line: Purchase: Acquired through the generosity of an anonymous donor

Label Text: In Untitled (Couple), a woman sits at a table, wearily resting her head on her arm. Next to her is a bottle and overturned glass. In the background, a man sits quietly at a piano. While the figures appear isolated, lost in their own thoughts, they are connected through the composition’s overlapping planes and the strong directional movement that aligns their arms. The glowing reds that emerge from the subdued pattern of colors add emotional warmth to the reflective mood of the painting.
A muralist, painter, and teacher, Charles Alston was an important figure in the Harlem Renaissance and a vital contributor to the development of African American art. Alston arrived in New York City as a young boy from North Carolina. He attended Columbia University where he developed a deep interest in Modern art. At the same time, Alston also drew inspiration from the music and the black cultural life of Harlem.